POOH'S Heffalump Movie, a delightful animated feature aimed at very young viewers, is a curious thing indeed.

As fans of AA Milne's stories may recall, the mysterious heffalump is a figment of Pooh and Piglet's feverish imaginations.

When they try to track down the creature, the two pals mistakenly follow their own footprints round in circles, believing them to be the hoof prints of their elusive prey.

Here, however, the heffalump is real. And so unspeakably cute (and British no less), your little ones will be begging for a stuffed toy the moment they step out of the cinema.

Like The Tigger Movie and Piglet's Big Movie before it, Pooh's Heffalump Movie is a colourful romp featuring all of the familiar characters from Hundred Acre Wood.

Pooh (voiced by Jim Cummings), Tigger (Cummings again), Piglet (John Fiedler) and co wake to hear strange noises emanating from Heffalump Hollow.

They surmise that it must be the sound of a heffalump: a strange and dangerous beast which none of them, thank goodness, has ever seen.

In a rare moment of collective courage, the friends resolve to find and capture the heffalump.

Rabbit (Ken Sansom) makes plans for the expedition. When little Roo (Nikita Hopkins) shows an interest in going along, he is told to wait behind.

He is simply too young for such a perilous mission.

Undeterred, Roo sets out alone and sure enough, he happens upon a baby heffalump called Lumpy, a kind of purple elephant with an adorable giggle.

Roo and Lumpy become firm friends and they return to Hundred Acre Wood to play games.Meanwhile, the older animals set myriad traps.

Pooh's Heffalump Movie is almost irresistibly charming, plying its message of tolerance and acceptance which will probably go over the heads its audience.

All they will care about is the amusing sight of Winnie with a honey pot on his head, or the pals falling victim to their own sneaky traps. There's not a great deal here for older children and parents.

Carly Simon once again provides an upbeat selection of ballads (underscored with a children's choir).

Updated: 09:03 Friday, March 25, 2005